Wiper

ABSTRACT

A mop includes a handle; a sliding sleeve slidingly disposed longitudinally on the handle and including a sleeve housing having a first side face, a second side face and an opening, the squeeze housing being movable from a mopping position to squeezing position in response to a sliding of the sliding sleeve; and a mopping device disposed at a bottom end of the handle and having a mop-head plate and a cleaning pad, the mop-head plate having two swivel-mounted mop-head plate wings foldable toward one another and pressable against each other and at least partially introducible into the opening in response to the sliding of the sliding sleeve into the squeezing position.

CROSS REFERENCE TO PRIOR APPLICATIONS

Priority is claimed to German Patent Application No. DE 10 2009 041640.4, filed Sep. 17, 2009.

FIELD

The present invention relates to a mop having a handle and a moppingdevice mounted at the bottom end of the handle that includes a mop-headplate and a cleaning pad, as well as a sliding sleeve, which isslidingly mounted on the handle in the longitudinal direction thereofand which has a squeezing device that is movable from a mopping positionto a squeezing position in response to a sliding of the sliding sleeve,the mop-head plate having two swivel-mounted mop-head plate wings thatare foldable toward one another and pressable against each other inresponse to a sliding of the squeezing device into the squeezingposition.

BACKGROUND

A mop of the type mentioned at the outset is known, for example, fromthe European Patent Application EP 1 208 788 A1. The known mop has ahandle and a sliding sleeve that is slidingly mounted on the handle inthe longitudinal direction thereof. At least two pressure arms projectfrom the sliding sleeve toward a mopping device mounted at the bottomhandle end, the mopping device having a mop-head plate having twomop-head plate wings that are pivotable between a mopping position and awringing position and that have a cleaning pad. When the sliding sleeveis slid toward the mopping device, the mop-head plate wings swingagainst each other in response to the action of the pressure arms. Thepressure arms slide over the mop-head plate wings, pressing them againsteach other to wring out the cleaning pad located therebetween. Foralignment of the mop-head plate wings when they are drawn in between thepressure arms, the printed publication provides for grooves to serve asguide devices at the inner surfaces of the pressure arms into whichassociated protuberances on the mop-head plate wings engage.

On the one hand, it is a disadvantage of the known mop that the pressurearms must be mechanically very stable to withstand the counterforceexerted by the mop-head plates when they are pressed against each other.This entails a greater material expenditure. On the other hand, theabove described guide devices also entail additional outlay formanufacturing.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An aspect of the present invention provides an improved design for a mopof the known type that will make it simpler and more cost-effective tomanufacture and that will offer advantages in terms of ease of handling.

The mop according to the present invention has a handle and a moppingdevice, which is mounted at the bottom end of the handle and has amop-head plate and a cleaning pad, as well as a sliding sleeve, which isslidingly mounted on the handle in the longitudinal direction thereofand has a squeezing device. The squeezing device is movable from amopping position to a squeezing position in response to a sliding of thesliding sleeve. The mop-head plate has two swivel-mounted mop-head platewings that are foldable toward one another and pressable against eachother in response to a sliding of the squeezing device into thesqueezing position. In the case of the mop described above, the presentinvention provides that the squeezing device be designed as a squeezehousing which has side faces and an opening facing the mopping devicethrough which the folded-together mop-head plate wings are at leastpartially introducible into the squeeze housing.

In accordance with one preferred embodiment of the present invention,the cross-sectional area of the squeeze housing corresponds to thecross-sectional area of the folded-together mop-head plate wings,respectively, is somewhat smaller than the same in order to providegreater squeezing pressure. As a result of this measure, the opening ofthe squeeze housing forms a squeezing gap having mutually opposingpressing surfaces, through whose action, pressure is exertable onto thefolded-together mop-head plate wings upon introduction of the same intothe squeeze housing. It is well within the grasp of one skilled in theart to select suitable dimensions as a function of the cleaning padused.

In the preferred embodiment described above for a mop, the squeezehousing has the shape of a flattened body having two wide side faces(oriented in parallel to the surfaces of the folded-together mop-headplate wings) and two narrow side faces (oriented perpendicularly to thesurfaces of the folded-together mop-head plate wings).

The mop according to the present invention is simple and inexpensive tomanufacture. Since, in its squeezing position, the squeeze housingsurrounds the mop on all sides, the mop-head plate is automaticallyaligned when it is pulled into the squeeze housing, independently of theangular position of the mop-head plate when it strikes against theopening. This eliminates the need for using guide elements, as areprovided under the related art described above.

In addition, the squeeze housing may have an aesthetically very pleasingdesign, for example, by providing cutouts at appropriate locations toopen up the general appearance. A further benefit of such cutouts isthat they not only provide a material savings and thus also lead to aweight reduction, but they also facilitate access to surfaces that areotherwise difficult to clean.

In contrast to the pressure arms known from the related art, whichessentially only exert pressure on the mop-head plate wings by punctualcontact, in the case of the pressing surfaces bounding the squeezinggap, the pressure is distributed over a greater surface area, namelyover an essentially strip-shaped area that covers the entire mop-headplate wing surface in the transversal direction. This reduces theexpenditure of force required for folding the mop-head plate wingstoward one another and pressing them against each other.

The pressing gap is fixed in its width in a simple manner by the lateralbounding surfaces configured perpendicularly to the pressing surfaces,without requiring any special outlay for material to increase mechanicalstability.

In accordance with one preferred embodiment, pressure rollers areprovided at the pressing surfaces of the squeezing gap. This reduces thefriction produced when the mopping device is introduced into thesqueezing gap.

In accordance with another preferred embodiment of the presentinvention, the pressure rollers are supported in elongated holes, thedistance between two elongated holes, which are configured opposite oneanother, tapering upwardly. Due to the frictional forces, a moppingdevice introduced into the squeezing gap entrains the pressure rollersupwardly, whereby, due to the conical orientation of the elongatedholes, the distance between the pressure rollers, which are mountedopposite one another, and, thus, the width of the squeezing gap, isincreasingly reduced. Here, the advantage is derived that, uponintroduction of the mopping device, the squeezing pressure is increasedsuccessively toward the bottom end of the plate wings, thereby achievingan improved wringing result.

In addition, means may be provided which effect a 90° rotation of thesqueeze housing in response to each back and forth sliding between thesqueezing position and the mopping position. In the squeezing position,the squeeze housing is oriented by its greatest linear elongation,namely the wider side faces, whose width corresponds at least to thewidth of a plate wing, in the mopping direction. This may have adetrimental effect when mopping underneath cabinets or the like, whenthe handle of the mop is to be guided at a very flat angle relative tothe surface of the floor to be cleaned. Perpendicularly thereto, thelinear elongation may be kept substantially smaller since the distancebetween the pressure rollers must not be greater than the thickness ofthe two folded-together mop-head plate wings. This distance correspondsto the width of the narrower side faces. A 90° rotation of the squeezehousing in response to the sliding from the squeezing position to themopping position brings the squeeze housing to the mopping position withits greatest linear elongation disposed perpendicularly to the moppingdirection, while only the narrower side face still extends in themopping direction. One skilled in the art knows generally how to effectsuch a rotation, for example, through the use of a threaded groove inthe handle and a corresponding guide element that engages therein on theinner wall of the sliding sleeve.

To further reduce the expenditure of force when squeezing out themopping device, the mop-head plate top sides may be provided with amaterial having reduced sliding friction, for example, a PTFE or POMcoating.

In addition, ramp regions may be provided on the backs of the mop-headplate wings to produce a pressure profile analogously to the abovedescribed configuration of the elongated holes in which the pressurerollers are supported. Such ramp regions also effect a pressure increaseon the mop-head plate wings when the mopping device is introduced intothe squeezing gap.

An especially simple manipulation is ensured for the cleaning processusing a mop in accordance with the present invention when the moppingdevice is mounted in an articulated manner on the handle end. In thiscase, a cardan joint is preferably used. The lateral swiveling movementsthat are advantageous for the mopping process are thereby made readilypossible. In one especially preferred specific embodiment, a centerpiece is provided between the mopping device and the handle as thearticulated connection on which the mop-head plate wings are alsomounted so as to be pivotable toward each other.

In addition, squeeze housing may be configured at its bottom end toserve as a base surface for the mop.

With regard to the cleaning pads used, there are no limitationswhatsoever. Any cleaning pads may be used that are suited and/ortypically used for mops having mop-head plates having hinged mop-headplate wings. All options for fastening such cleaning pads to themop-head plate are sufficiently known in the art and will not bedescribed in greater detail here.

On the bottom side of the mop-head plate, a layer of a soft material,such as foam, in particular closed-cell foam, soft rubber or the like,may be provided as an underlayer for the cleaning pad, this layeradvantageously being permanently fastened to the mop-head plate. In thisspecific embodiment, the cleaning pad may be designed to besubstantially simpler and thus manufactured less expensively. When thecleaning pad is replaced, this layer, which is typically notfast-wearing, is retained and is not also discarded, as is the case forcleaning pad laminates known from the related art, in which such a layeris normally integrated. A cost advantage is also hereby derived. Thisapproach is equally advantageous from an environmental standpoint.

The mop according to the present invention, along with its variousparts, is preferably made of materials, such as plastic materials, forexample, that are insensitive to the respective liquids used forcleaning a floor. Certain parts of the mop, which must be mechanicallyvery stable, may, however, also be fabricated of metal.

Advantageous embodiments of the present invention are explained in thefollowing with reference to the figures of the drawing.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWING

In the drawing:

FIG. 1 shows a perspective representation of a preferred embodiment of amop according to the present invention, including a partiallyillustrated handle;

FIG. 2 shows a front view of the sliding sleeve designed in accordancewith the present invention, including a partially illustrated handle ofthe mop from FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 shows the sliding sleeve of FIG. 2 in a lateral view (rotated by90° from the representation in FIG. 2);

FIG. 4 shows a perspective representation of another preferredembodiment of a mop according to the present invention, including apartially illustrated handle;

FIG. 5 shows a front view of the sliding sleeve designed in accordancewith the present invention, including a partially illustrated handle ofthe mop from FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 shows the sliding sleeve including the mopping device and thepartially illustrated handle from FIG. 5 in a lateral view (rotated by90° from the representation in FIG. 5);

FIG. 7 shows a perspective representation of a preferred embodiment of amop according to the present invention, including a partiallyillustrated handle;

FIG. 8 shows a front view of the sliding sleeve designed in accordancewith the present invention, including the mopping device and a partiallyillustrated handle of the mop from FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 shows the sliding sleeve including the mopping device and apartially illustrated handle from FIG. 8 in a lateral view (rotated by90° from the sliding sleeve in FIG. 8);

FIG. 10 a-d show, in a perspective representation based on the exampleof a mop in accordance with another preferred embodiment of the presentinvention, the alignment of the mop-head plate upon introduction thereofinto the squeeze housing;

FIG. 11 a-d show, in a perspective representation based on the exampleof the mop from FIG. 10, in accordance with another preferred embodimentof the present invention, the 90° rotation of the squeeze housing inresponse to the sliding of the sliding sleeve between the moppingposition and the squeezing position in accordance with another preferredspecific embodiment of the present invention.

In the figures, like components are denoted by the same referencenumerals. Moreover, with regard to the reference numerals used in therespective figures, reference is also made to the explanations used forthe remaining figures; in some instances, the reference numerals onlybeing mentioned in connection with only one figure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Discernible in FIG. 1 is a mop 1 according to the present inventionhaving a handle 2 and a mopping device 3 that is mounted at the bottomend of handle 2 and has a mop-head plate 4 and a cleaning pad 4.1affixed to the bottom side of the plate, as well as a sliding sleeve 5,which is slidingly mounted on handle 2 in the longitudinal directionthereof and has a squeezing device, which, in accordance with thepresent invention, is designed as a squeeze housing 6 having side facesand an opening 7 facing mopping device 3. The squeeze housing is movablefrom a mopping position to a squeezing position in response to a slidingof sliding sleeve 5.

Mop-head plate 4 has two swivel-mounted mop-head plate wings 4.2, 4.2that are at least partially introducible from below into squeeze housing6 through opening 7 in response to the sliding of squeeze housing 6 intothe squeezing position. Upon entry into opening 7, mop-head plate wings4.2, 4.2, as is explained in even greater detail in the following, inparticular with reference to FIG. 10, are aligned, folded toward oneanother and pressed against each other to squeeze out the cleaning padlocated therebetween.

In correspondence with the cross-sectional area of folded-togethermop-head plate wings, the squeeze housing has two mutually opposingnarrow side faces 6.1, 6.1 and, respectively, wide side faces 6.2, 6.2,each. In the illustrated specific embodiment, the wider side faces 6.2,6.2 are designed as closed, wide web sections. Projecting obliquelyoutwardly from each bottom end thereof is a fork-shaped holder 6.3 forsupporting a squeeze roller 8 in each case.

Narrower side faces 6.1, 6.1 have an open design, so that all parts ofmop 1 are easily accessible for cleaning, for example. In addition, notonly is a material savings achieved due to the partially open structure,but the visual impression is also enhanced.

The use of squeeze rollers 8 is not absolutely necessary; the bottomedges of side walls 6.2 could themselves likewise serve as pressingsurfaces for the mop-head plate wings. However, the force that must beexpended to move sliding sleeve 6 is substantially reduced by thereduced friction resulting from the use of squeeze rollers 8.

In addition, the expenditure of force is also reduced in that pressurerollers 8 exert pressure on mop-head plate wings 4.2, 4.2 over theentire width thereof in a linear contact area, and not only in avirtually punctual contact area, as in the case of the known pressurearms.

In the illustrated, preferred specific embodiment, mopping device has acenter piece 4.3, on which mop-head wing plates 4.2, 4.2 are pivotablymounted. The bottom end of handle 2 is connected via a cardan joint 9 tothis center piece 4.3.

The mutually opposing fork-shaped holders 6.3 for squeeze rollers 8 arejoined to one another and fixedly, mutually spaced apart by transversewebs 6.4. In accordance with one preferred specific embodiment of thepresent invention, squeeze rollers 8 and transverse webs 6.4 bound asqueezing gap, through which mopping device 3 is at least partiallypassed to squeeze out washing pad 4.1 by the action of folded-togethermop-head plate wings 4.2, 4.2. Since the mutual distance of pressurerollers 8 is fixed by transverse webs 6.4, no widening of the squeezinggap can occur nor, therefore, can there be any decrease in the pressureexerted by the squeeze rollers on mop-head plate wings 4.2, 4.2.

It is also discernible in the figures that outwardly rising ramp regions4.4 are configured on mop-head plate wings 4.2, 4.2 to produce apressure profile during the squeezing process. It is thus ensured thatthe contact pressure increases continuously toward the bottom end offolded-together mop-head plate wings 4.2, 4.2.

In accordance with one preferred specific embodiment of the presentinvention, a mop according to the present invention has an integratedcleaning agent reservoir, including a spray device and associatedactuation means. A spray nozzle 10 is discernible in the figures in thearea of open side faces 6.1.

In an enlarged detail view of mop 1 illustrated in FIG. 1, FIGS. 2 and 3show sliding sleeve 5 having squeeze housing 6 in the squeezingposition, where folded-together mop-head plate wings 4.2, 4.2 have beenintroduced into squeeze housing 6.

FIG. 4 through 6 and 7 through 9 illustrate two other preferred specificembodiments of the present invention analogously to the representationof the mop in FIG. 1 through 3.

Mop 1 illustrated in FIG. 4 through 6 has the distinguishing featurethat squeeze housing 6 has the shape of an open bell that is flattenedat the bottom. Except for two mutually opposing, narrow gap-shapedcutouts in narrow side faces 6.1, 6.1, the housing wall is substantiallyclosed. The squeezing gap is delimited by the bottom edges of the wall.This specific embodiment has the advantage, inter alia, that, in thewringing position, the squeeze housing may be utilized as a stand forthe mop.

In the specific embodiment illustrated in FIG. 7 through 9, the widerside faces 6.2 have a completely open design, while the narrower sidefaces 6.1 have narrow, gap-shaped cutouts.

FIG. 10 a)-d) show another preferred specific embodiment of a mop 1according to the present invention. It is discernible that squeezehousing 6 has a shorter design than the squeeze housings in the specificembodiments described above. While in the case of mops 1 describedabove, the length of squeeze housing 6 is selected to also encompassspray nozzle 10 configured above mop-head plate 4 on handle 2, thespecific embodiment illustrated in FIG. 10 a)-d) provides for anothersleeve section 5.1 between squeeze housing 6 and sliding sleeve 5 thatfeatures an elongate slot 5.2 in the area of spray nozzle 10. The heightof squeeze housing 6 corresponds only approximately to the length of amop-head plate wing 4.2, so that folded-together mop-head plate wings4.2, 4.2 are only just barely fully introducible.

Narrow side faces 6.1, 6.1 are designed as web sections, while wide sidefaces 6.2, 6.2 are open. Holders for supporting pressure rollers 8 areprovided at the bottom ends of the web sections on both sides. Sidefaces 6.2, 6.2 are downwardly bounded by pressure rollers 8. Sequence ofFIG. 10 a)-d) illustrates how a mop-head plate 4 striking at an angleagainst opening 7 formed as a pressing gap, is automatically aligned,together with its folded-together mop-head plate wings 4.2, 4.2, intothe correct position at opening 7 without any guide devices and, inresponse to further actuation of sliding sleeve 5, plunges into thesame.

In a schematic representation based on the mop of FIG. 10, FIG. 11 a)-d)(the reference numerals were omitted for the sake of better clarity)show the advantageous effect of a 90° rotation of the squeeze housingwhen the transition is made from the squeezing position to the moppingposition. It is discernible that, in the mopping position, the squeezehousing is oriented with its wider side faces perpendicularly to themopping direction, thereby substantially increasing the freedom ofmotion when actuating the handle. Thus, it is possible, for example, toguide the handle at an only flat angle over the floor in order to mopunderneath furniture, such as cabinets or the like, for example.

A comparison test was performed in line with actual practice using astandard commercial mop having pressure arms which are anchored on oneside (at the bottom end of the sliding sleeve) and a mop according tothe present invention in accordance with the specific embodimentillustrated in FIG. 10, to test the effectiveness of the squeezingprocess for the mop according to the present invention. To this end, theamount of water expelled to a test floor area following the squeezingprocess was ascertained for both mops during mopping. This amount ofwater should be as small as possible in order to prevent the formationof spots or cleaning streaks or even to avoid damage to water-sensitivefloors, such as parquet floors, for example, due to excessive waterresidues. Particularly in the case of the last mentioned floors, theexcess water should not exceed 3-4 g/m².

The following procedure was used, in particular: A water-saturatedcleaning pad was affixed to the mop-head plates of the two mops andsqueezed out by actuating the sliding sleeve by a typical application offorce (corresponds to a squeezing pressure of approximately 80 N, as wasascertained in a series of tests). The cleaning pads were subsequentlyweighed and fastened to the mop-head plates again. In a next step, atest floor area of 5 m² was mopped using mops provided with the cleaningpads, and the cleaning pads were weighed once more.

From the difference in the results, the weight of the amount of waterexpelled to the test floor area by the two cleaning pads during moppingwas determined.

For a standard mop, an amount of water of approximately 7.6 g/m² wasobtained in this case. At only 3.3 g/m², the amount of water expelled tothe floor was substantially lower for the mop according to the presentinvention. Thus, the mop according to the present invention may also bereadily used to clean sensitive floors, such as parquet, wood or marblefloors.

1-13. (canceled)
 14. A mop comprising: a handle; a sliding sleeveslidingly disposed longitudinally on the handle and including a sleevehousing having first side face, a second side face and an opening, thesqueeze housing being movable from a mopping position to a squeezingposition in response to a sliding of the sliding sleeve; and a moppingdevice disposed at a bottom end of the handle and having a mop-headplate and a cleaning pad, the mop-head plate having two swivel-mountedmop-head plate wings foldable toward one another and pressable againsteach other and at least partially introducible into the opening inresponse to the sliding of the sliding sleeve into the squeezingposition.
 15. The mop as recited in claim 14, wherein a cross-sectionalarea of the squeeze housing corresponds to across-sectional area of themop-head plate wings folded together in the squeezing position, andwherein the opening forms a pressing gap having pressing surfaces. 16.The mop as recited in claim 15, further comprising pressure rollersdisposed in the pressing gap.
 17. The mop as recited in claim 16,wherein the sliding sleeve includes elongated holes configured tosupport the pressure rollers.
 18. The mop as recited in claim 14,wherein the squeeze housing includes a pair of open side faces disposedopposite each other.
 19. The mop as recited in claim 14, wherein thesqueeze housing includes a pair of cutouts disposed opposite each other.20. The mop as recited in claim 14, further comprising a rotating deviceconfigured to effect a 90° rotation of the squeeze housing in responseto a sliding of the sliding sleeve between the squeezing position andthe mopping position.
 21. The mop as recited in claim 14, wherein amaterial having a reduced friction is disposed on a top side of each ofthe mop-head plate wings.
 22. The mop as recited in claim 14, wherein atop side of each mop-head plate wing includes a ramp region configuredto produce a pressure profile.
 23. The mop as recited in claim 14,wherein the mopping device is mounted in an articulated manner at abottom end of the handle.
 24. The mop as recited in claim 12, wherein acardan joint joins the mopping device and the handle.
 25. The mop asrecited in claim 14, further comprising an integrated cleaning agentreservoir including a spray device having a spray nozzle and anactuation device.
 26. The mop as recited in claim 14, further comprisinga layer of a soft material permanently fastened to a bottom side of themop-head plate.
 27. The mop as recited in claim 26, wherein the softmaterial includes one of a foam and a soft rubber.
 28. The mop asrecited in claim 27, wherein the foam is a closed-cell foam.